Black excellence extends into several fields, from politics to finance and especially so in the field of entertainment. Chadwick Boseman represented iconic characters on the silver screen with grace and aplomb. Last night the world lost a great actor, one whose career was brief yet impactful. Boseman passed away after a four-year bout with colon cancer at the age of 43 with his family by his side.

The outpouring of support and fond memories were widespread throughout social media, as every tweet, Instagram and Facebook post celebrated his life in photos and beautiful words. Whether it was the life of Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson, or the legendary lawyer Thurgood Marshall, to the fictional Marvel Comics superhero Black Panther, Boseman played each role with a smoothness that ascended even more once the credits began to roll.

Born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina he started his career in 2003 with TV on Third Watch. He also played an active role behind the camera as he wrote plays. He got a regular role in the year 2010 for TV series Persons Unknown. His last role was in the Netflix drama Da 5 Bloods.

One of my favorite roles was how he played the role of singer James Brown in “Get On Up”. Being a native Georgian, I had special interest in how he was going to pull it off, and he did it, bringing a beautiful portrayal on a role that could not be easily imitated. His voice, mannerisms and moves made it look like he just rolled out of bed and did it without a second thought. It showed gift that Chadwick shared with the rest of the world.

It was even more on display as he entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe and stole the show as the King of Wakanda in Captain America Civil War. Every scene he was in, eyeballs were glued to the set as he stood out among his peers. It was his ability to shine until the after credits scene that led to Black Panther becoming one of the highest grossing movies of all time when it debuted in 2018. One can attest that to the fantastic directing of Ryan Coogler, but it was Boseman’s ability to represent both King T’Challa and Black Panther that emphasized the power of African beauty, strength and wisdom of ages for generations to come. The scenes when he spoke with his father in the Wakandan afterlife brought many to a tear.

Chadwick Boseman’s legacy will extend far beyond what we would see in a movie theater. It is in not just his family, but it will be remembered in every fan who wears a Black Panther t-shirt to the next MCU film or wears the number 42 in honor of Robinson. May everyone who enjoyed his art remember the life who worked so diligently to bring it to us.

To close with a quote from the late actor: “I think you realize how much you need to have people that you love. It’s not as much about them loving you – it’s about you needing to love people.”

#WakandaForever